The class of 2011 is about to depart the confines of their home environment and begin the wonderful world of undiscovered realities. They move from Momma’s meals to junk food on the go. They leave the environment of “did you clean your room?” to resident assistants and academic deans. They exchange “teachers” for professors. They will give up siblings for roomies. This is also the class that has some rather limited historical perspective. They may well draw blank expressions when items like: The Berlin Wall, U2 Spy Plane, the USSR, and British Honduras are mentioned. For them, MTV and Fox TV have always been around. Al Gore has always been running for political office. Beavis and Butthead and the Simpsons are cultural icons. Phones have always been mobile and you never “take one off the hook” to avoid calls. Being “lame” has nothing to do with a physical ailment; and being “sick” is actually a good thing. And Rush Limbaugh and “Dittoheads” have always been the enemy of liberal thinking. On the other hand, this class will face some significant intellectual and spiritual challenges. If they go off to “university” with just some basic beliefs that are perceived as being either a required by-product of church attendance or their “parent’s religion,” it is only a matter of time before their spiritual spinal chord collapses. I shudder to think how quickly they might reflect the conduct of those who followed Joshua and the elders of his generation. Namely, they would soon forget the Lord their God. Can they hardly wait to bolt from the somewhat engrained habits of church and youth group attendance? Or, will they seek to find fellowship with godly Christians and a church home away from home that holds solid doctrinal convictions. I Corinthians 15:33 was written for such times as these: Do not be deceived, bad company corrupts good morals. (Emphasis added) They will also go one on one with fellow students and professors whose worldviews are not even close to their own. Will they wilt or come away even more convicted? As their home church, we should not let them go unprotected. It is our responsibility to uphold them in prayer, inquire frequently of their well being and demonstrate loving concern for their daily walk with the Lord. After all, their battle field may not be Afghanistan or Iraq; it could be more dangerous than that. Their enemy is subtle and crafty. He goes about seeking to devour them. But their enemy is no match for the Holy Spirit and good armor (Ephesians 6:10-20). Okay church, time for us to come along side and pray, support and love these kids, whether we “begat them” or not!